"Oh my~"
"You actually have the nerve to ask me to save the daughter you had with another woman? What a bold man you are!"
"However, seeing as you provided such important intelligence about the 'Devil Fruit,' I suppose I can reluctantly help you out."
Irene glanced at Ide with a faint smile, her words carrying a playful bite that didn't quite match her helpful actions.
The reason Irene entrusted her daughter to Ide wasn't just because he was the only option; she had also used her magic to peek into his soul and seen his kind, loyal nature.
"Thank you."
Having received Irene's promise, Ide, while holding Irene's daughter, gave her a respectful nod of gratitude.
"No time to waste."
"Let's go."
"To save your daughter."
Irene said, stretching her limbs and doing some warm-up exercises. Living as a reclusive Dragon for four hundred years had almost made her forget how to walk like a human.
"Okay."
As for Ide, seeing everything proceeding according to plan, he slowly let out a breath of relief.
In reality, after being insta-killed by Irene and sensing the massive gap in their power, he realized that beneath her somewhat erratic exterior lay a gentle heart.
With the power Irene possessed—enough to wipe him out instantly—if she truly wanted to, no villager who strayed into the Rosemary forest would have ever made it out alive. There certainly wouldn't be rumors of Dragon sightings.
"By the way, Irene."
"Are we just leaving like this?"
"Don't we need to say goodbye to Zeref?"
After following Irene through the forest for a while, Ide suddenly remembered he hadn't said farewell to Zeref.
Honestly, Zeref gave Ide a very strange feeling. Neither his Observation Haki nor his magic detection could gauge Zeref's depth.
Based on Ide's deduction, unless he was mistaken, that black-haired boy named Zeref was a monster on par with, or perhaps even stronger than, Irene.
"No need."
Irene strode ahead without looking back, shaking her head. Her voice was cool. "Consider this a warning: do not be deceived by that black-haired boy's fragile appearance."
"He is not a good person! If you ever encounter him out in the world, do whatever you can to stay far away from him. Otherwise, your life will be in danger."
Irene's tone was filled with wariness toward Zeref.
"Understood."
Ide followed behind her, nodding slightly.
As he suspected, that boy named Zeref was no ordinary character.
---
Not long after.
Irene and Ide finally arrived at Rosemary Village.
"Ide, are you okay?"
The moment Ide approached the village, Ur, who had been napping with Ultear in the inn, sensed his massive magic power. She woke up instantly, grabbed the sleeping baby, and rushed to the edge of town to welcome him back.
"I'm fine."
Ide smiled as he watched Ur rush toward him.
"You don't look injured, that's a relief."
seeing that Ide was covered in dirt but unharmed, Ur let out a sigh of relief, her tense nerves finally relaxing.
"So, care to explain, Ide?"
"Who is this child? And who is this woman?"
After confirming Ide's safety, Ur turned her gaze to the cute baby in Ide's arms and the red-haired woman walking beside him.
"Uhh."
Cold sweat broke out on Ide's forehead. He sensed danger. If he didn't explain this well, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Hello."
"I am Irene. Irene Belserion."
"And the baby in Ide's arms is our daughter."
Before Ide could speak, Irene extended her hand to Ur first, introducing herself with a smile.
"Ur."
"Ur Milkovich."
Ur naturally sensed the provocation. She kept her expression calm, shook Irene's hand lightly, and retorted bluntly, "You say that child is yours and Ide's? That's interesting. I've never heard of a pregnancy and birth taking only one day."
"Haha."
"How can you be so sure that you met Ide before I did?"
Irene chuckled, looking at Ur and continuing her probe.
"Heh."
"On the point of who met Ide first, I am extremely confident."
Ur smiled back naturally. She had zero doubt that she knew Ide first.
"Senior Irene."
"About my daughter..."
Ide looked at the two women bickering and sighed helplessly, urging them to focus.
"Fine."
"No more jokes."
Irene glanced back at Ide, then turned her gaze to the baby in Ur's arms. She spoke softly, "Heh, this child is truly worthy of Ide's bloodline. She is much more exceptional than you, Ur."
"Naturally."
Ur didn't argue. She simply took it as a compliment to her daughter.
"However, for an infant, excessive talent is just a burden."
"Fortunately, you met me today. Otherwise, this child's future would be filled with danger, stumbling through life."
As she spoke, Irene placed a finger on Ultear. "Separate."
BOOM!
The moment her voice fell, the abnormally massive magic power within Ultear was instantly separated.
"Seal."
Next, Irene sealed the massive power and returned it into Ultear's body.
After finishing, she looked at Ur and Ide and smiled. "Done. I've treated the magic power inside the child! From now on, this power will gradually unseal as she grows, until her body is strong enough to fully bear it."
"Irene, please allow me to thank you again for saving my daughter."
Ide leaned in to check on Ultear. Confirming that her magic power was stable, he thanked Irene again sincerely.
"Don't mention it."
Irene didn't say much, just tilting her chin slightly.
"Irene, thank you for helping our family."
Upon learning that Irene was the one Ide had brought to save their daughter, Ur also thanked her profusely.
"Stop."
"Ur, you don't need to thank me."
"After all, saving your daughter didn't come without a price."
Irene rejected Ur's thanks. A playful glint flashed in her eyes as she spoke with a teasing smile.